JC BASEBALL: King leads Chaps’ hot bats into conference play

Published 6:25 pm, Thursday, March 8, 2018

Midland College's Riley King (1) makes a play against Odessa College on Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at Christensen Stadium.
James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

Midland College's Riley King (1) makes a play against Odessa College on Wednesday, March 29, 2017, at Christensen Stadium.
James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram

JC BASEBALL: King leads Chaps’ hot bats into conference play

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Midland College baseball coach Hector Rodriguez always knew that Riley King was a dependable and steady infielder.

The only question was how well King going to hit.

Well, King has certainly turned it up a notch season as his .364 batting average is among the best on a team full of good hitters this season.

“He’s really starting to swing the bat really well and starting to make some adjustments,” Rodriguez said about King. “He’s always a good defender. He’s a kid that shows up every day and plays the game hard, obviously a leader in our locker room. He’s gotten more physical and stronger.”

King and the Chaparrals (7-8 overall) will look to continue their hot-hitting ways in the start of Western Junior College Athletic Conference play against Howard College in a home-and-home, four-game series. The first doubleheader will be played today at Christensen Stadium before the series switches to Big Spring on Saturday.

King and the Chaps are coming off an 11-10 non-conference loss at Odessa College in which the sophomore second baseman from Euless Trinity High School went 1 for 2 with two walks and three runs scored.

After getting off to a somewhat slow start to the season, MC has been its usual self at the plate, scoring double-digit runs in eight of its last 10 games (a 7-3 record).

“Right now we’re just in a zone,” King said. “(Assistant coach Bo Altobelli) deserves a lot of credit too because what he’s doing with us is working. I know a lot of our hitters are doing extra work, coming in early and staying late, and we’re just focused right now. We’re seeing good pitches and we’re patient. We’re just seeing the ball really well.”

King has been one of those steady at-bats for the Chaps this season and he said part of that is due to his own work ethic.

“I feel great right now,” he said. “I feel real confident in my ability and I’m just going to keep working hard and try to help the team. I’m trying to take on a leadership role as a sophomore but I’m really excited for this great group of guys. I’m just trying to focus on keeping everything simple, keeping my priorities right and keep working hard. Every day I just want to compete out there and be a leader.”

Added Rodriguez about King: “He’s a kid that shows up every day and plays the game hard, obviously a leader in our locker room.”

King and the Chaps now look to be tested against a typical Howard team that has great all-around talent.

“I know they’re a good ballclub but I believe in what we can do as a team,” King said. “I know what our hitters are capable of and I know our pitchers have the ability to do some great things. I know we can compete well with them and it should be a good series.”

And despite an inconsistent start to the season, King likes the potential of this team going forward.

“As a team we’re really excited about starting conference,” he said. “We have good really good talent. We have a lot of freshmen but with the sophomores that we have I think we’re a mature group and I think we’re going to keep excelling in every aspect of the game. Every day we’ve worked hard in practice with a good attitude.”

Records: Midland College 7-8 overall, 0-0 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference; Howard College 8-5, 0-0

Notes & quotes: MC coach Hector Rodriguez said he still likes his team but said the Chaparrals need to get better overall pitching. “We’ve got to have some guys step up,” he said. “We’re five weeks into the year and still kind of scuffling a bit as far as who’s going to be good in all roles -- starting, middle relief, back end of the game. Offensively, I think we’ve got a good group of guys who are athletic and dynamic. We’ve got some guys with some hot bats and hopefully some of them can carry that into the first weekend against a good team.” … MC is expected to start sophomore RHP Logan McCrummen (1-2, 5.40 ERA) in Game 1 today, followed by sophomore LHP Aaron Weseman (0-0, 6.75). On Sunday, freshman RHP Jacob Webb (0-2, 16.07) is expected to start the first game, followed by freshman RHP Garrett Egli (0-1, 5.79) in the series finale. … Rodriguez said the Hawks have size, talent and pitching depth. “It will be a good challenge for our hitters,” he said. “We just have to stick with our approach and not be afraid to hit late in the count and eliminate strikeouts. We need to handle adversity.”

Next: Midland College at New Mexico Military Institute (DH), noon March 16: New Mexico JC at Howard College, 3 p.m. Tuesday

2018 WJCAC Baseball Standings

Conf. Overall

W L W L

New Mexico JC 0 0 11 4

Clarendon College 0 0 8 5

Howard College 0 0 8 5

New Mexico Military 0 0 12 8

Midland College 0 0 7 8

Odessa College 0 0 8 10

Western Texas 0 0 5 9

Luna CC 0 0 6 12

Frank Phillips 0 0 5 11

This weekend’s series

Midland College vs. Howard College; New Mexico JC vs. Western Texas College; Luna Community College at Odessa College; New Mexico Military Institute at El Paso Community College; Clarendon College at Frank Phillips College